Homeland Security opening private mail

WASHINGTON - In the 50 years that Grant Goodman has known and corresponded with a colleague in the Philippines he never had any reason to suspect that their friendship was anything but spectacularly ordinary.

But now he believes that the relationship has somehow sparked the interest of the Department of Homeland Security and led the agency to place him under surveillance.

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A spokesman for the Customs and Border Protection division said he couldn’t speak directly to Goodman’s case but acknowledged that the agency can, will and does open mail coming to U.S. citizens that originates from a foreign country whenever it’s deemed necessary.

“All mail originating outside the United States Customs territory that is to be delivered inside the U.S. Customs territory is subject to Customs examination,” says the CBP Web site. That includes personal correspondence. “All mail means ‘all mail,’” said John Mohan, a CBP spokesman, emphasizing the point.

“This process isn’t something we’re trying to hide,” Mohan said, noting the wording on the agency’s Web site. “We’ve had this authority since before the Department of Homeland Security was created,” Mohan said.

Customs had had the right to go thru personal mail long before Bush was in office.

Originally posted by JamieinNH: </font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by LadyEagle: I would have like to have seen a picture of the letter in question, sealed by Homeland Security. Would make the story more credible.

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Credible? Are you saying you don't believe the story?

Jamie </font>[/QUOTE]Of course. All some people need today is a mere accusation from a news agency who get their information from unidentified sources and show no evidence. He is guilty until proven innocent in their eyes. Too bad Dan Rather didn't hang on a few more months. His story about the fake memo could have actually gained traction and the liberals could have smeared him a bit more.

Originally posted by hillclimber: I'm glad they do, as it may give them leads into dark areas.
And as Bro. Curtis points out it's not only legal, but it's been done for many years.
Sorry but it's just another attempt gone sour.

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Well, if it's not illegal, it should be! But, I don't expect this to happen while this administration is in power.

Unfortunately, instances of the government (or even someone's else's government) opening our mail has been going on for many years. For example, back in the 1980s, I exchanged postage stamps with a fellow stamp collector in Leningrad, USSR. On more than one occasion, I received letters from him and I could tell they had been opened and resealed. Whoever did it made no attempt to hide it. They were dated (three) March 14, 1985; March 24, 1985; April 26, 1985, and October 1, 1985, long before there was a Department of Homeland Security.

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Originally posted by LadyEagle: I would have like to have seen a picture of the letter in question, sealed by Homeland Security. Would make the story more credible.

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From your source:

"A spokesman for the Customs and Border Protection division said he couldn’t speak directly to Goodman’s case but acknowledged that the agency can, will and does open mail coming to U.S. citizens that originates from a foreign country whenever it’s deemed necessary.

“All mail originating outside the United States Customs territory that is to be delivered inside the U.S. Customs territory is subject to Customs examination,” says the CBP Web site. That includes personal correspondence. “All mail means ‘all mail,’” said John Mohan, a CBP spokesman, emphasizing the point.

“This process isn’t something we’re trying to hide,” Mohan said, noting the wording on the agency’s Web site. “We’ve had this authority since before the Department of Homeland Security was created,” Mohan said. "

What makes you think a letter is exempt from Custom's inspections when your luggage and your person are not and never have been?

I'm curious why everyone is up in arms over the story. There's no presumption of privacy when sending something via US mail. That's what postal inspectors are for.

But as far as sending something from the US out, or from outside in, it's even less of a presumption. In fact, I know family that has sent money to, say, India, and the recipient gets the letter, but the money is missing. In fact, when I got married, I had to sent invitations to India three times, because they had not gotten them. We finally got one invitation back 6 months after married, marked "insufficient address", even though the address was fine.

Originally posted by Terry_Herrington: </font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by emeraldctyangel: And yet you had no problem with it while being ignorant on the matter, at the same time allegedly following the Grand Jury lies.

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What an ignorant statement! I was not bothered by the murder of a friend, until I found out about it.